Detachable cross chain



l feb. i2, 1924; A l 1,483,385

Filed June is. 192x IN VEN Tw?. Osc/m .Scharf/vl.

Patented Feb. l2, lgi.

kPATN'iq IOFFCE.

OSCAR sciorniv, or i/riiviiniiroiis, MINNESOTA.

DETACHABLE CROSS CHAIN.

Applicationl filed June 16, 1921. p Serial No. 477,956.

eXact descriptionk of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a cross chain for a tire and forms part of the usual anti-'skid' chains applied to vehicle tires,- particularly to tires of automobile wheels. It is the common practice to have the cross chains so connected to the side chainsthat a tool is necessary to eect a disconnection ofthe cross chain. l Such tool must always be carried so as to be available when needed.V4

Furthermore, to disconnect the ordinary cross chainv and substitute a new one, it is generally a very arduous and disagreeable task and usually results in great soiling of the hands and clothing.

It is an object of this invention, therefore,

to provide a cross"chain so constructed thatf the saine can be quickly and easily detached from the side chains without the use of any tool or implement and a new cross chain likewise inserted without the use of a tool or implement.

This and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth in the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different views, and in which- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the inside of the cross chain;

Fig. 2 is a partial side elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is a view of the end links showing the same in the position of partial removel; and

Fig. 4f is a section illustrating the removal of the links7 taken on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, a cross chain of usual or any standard type of construction is shown comprising the links 1. At each end of the chain is a link 2 having a straight bight portion 2a, the ends of which are reversely bent to form hooks 2b. The end link 3 is connected to the vhook members 2b of the link 2 and this link also has a straight bight portion 3a,'the ends of which are formed into hooks 3b yadapted to be clinched over a1 link in the side chain which passes circumferentially around the' tire. The rear portion of the bight 3a is flattened, asshown at 3, to `be of smaller cross section so thatthe thickness of the link at this point is less than'the width of the space between the `ends of the hooks 2b and the straight portion of the link 2. The width of the bight 3a is somewhat smaller than the norinal distance between the hooks 2b, so that when the'links 2 and 3^ are engaged,v as shown in Fig. l, the hooks 2b are pressed somewhat toward each other and are tightly held against the sides of the link 3.

yVViththis construction vthe chain comprising the links l and 2 can be quite readily detached from the link 3Ywhich is permanently attachedto tlie'side chain. To eect such a detachment, the link 3 is first turned so that its longitudinal center line will be noi'- mal to that ofl link 2.` This link 3 is then rotated about the axis of its side `which is yin the hooks 2b throughl substantially 180 ydegrees to bring into the position shown in. Figu. When inthis position, the link can now be slid longitudinally acrossl the link 2 and the flattened portion 3c will slide out laterally through the space between the end of the hooks 2b and the body of the hook 2, as can be clearly seen from the section in Fig. 4. If it is only desired to replace the chain formed by the links l, the link 2 can be readily removed from the end link l by simply withdrawing one end through said link. The new chain can now be quickly hooked into the links 2 and these links connected to the links 3 by reversing the operation above described.

The fact that the ends of link 2 spring outwardly prevents any material longitudinal relative movement of the links 2 and 3 and the links cannot be moved suinciently longitudinally tol separate the same so that there is no danger of the chain being acci dentally disconnected. The resilient spreading of the hooks 2b also insures a rm connection between the links 2 and 3 tending to eliminate rattling.

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a simple and eicient detachable cross chain and one that can be quickly detached and replaced'with a minimum amount of inconvenience. Such a device has great utility as it is often iinpossible vfor taxioabs and other `vehicles 'to stop and go through prolonged operation to change a cross chain and iniioli damage often results by a broken or loose vehain striking parts of the vehicle, i

lt will, of course, be understood that varioiis changes may be made iin lthe form, 'details and arrangement of the device Without r'departing from the seopeof applioants inventiomwliieln generally stated, consists in the matter shown and described and set forthin the appended claims.

lli/That is olainied is: i

l. A cross chain comprising yan end link having a straight bight portion and-hooked vend portions "Whieli are Aadapted to be attached to a standard'side .oh-ain, ya :link een- .neoted to said end link `also having a straight bight portion and also `having hooked 'ends :adapted ito i engage lthrough the bight portion lof said end link, fthe `endsiof the hooks lon fthe .second mentioned link vbeing :spaced from the body portion thereof connected toa `standard side .ehain, a link Connected .tosa'id end link" also fhaving av 'biglit portion, the ends o'f Whieh are bent `in planes -atiright `anglestothe biglit portion to form hooks engaging through "the bight Portion @off the end link, "Said hooks being resiliently movable toward each other and being resiliently held against the side portions of the bightviof the end link Whereby relative 'longitudinal movement of said links is substantially prevented, said first mentioned link having its bight portion flattened to pass between the ends of the hook portion and the bight portion of said second mentioned link Awhen turned and `slidden out orossivfise thereof.

y 3, Across ohain striiotiire comprising, an end link having a biglit portion and having its ends bent into lio'okforin in planes substantially 'normal tothe plane of said bight portion,-said hook portions engaging a side chain, Iaseeon'd similarly formed link having `itshooked vends engaging the biglit portion of said link vand having its Vbight portion engaging y'the a'djfaeent feross 'chain llink, the

4bight portion 'of said first mentioned link being 'flattened so as `to pass under the hooked .ends of the second mentioned link When. `turned Vand thereof.v

Ll. The fstriietiire Aset forth in claim 3, the

yWidth 'of the bi-ght `portion of said first :named llink being somewhat less than the normal `spread of the two hooked' ends of said second named link, so that when the :two links fare engaged, the hooks ofthe second named' link Will' be tightly held against the sidesof the firstinained link. In testimony whereof Iaifix myfsi'gn'aturel osoAii Sonoran.

slidden ont -orossvvisa 

